China slammed the US for “arbitrarily seizing” vessels of other nations amid escalating tensions in the Caribbean.
“The US practice of arbitrarily seizing other countries’ vessels grossly violates international law,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters in Beijing.
“China opposes unilateral, illicit sanctions that have no basis in international law or have no authorization of the United Nations Security Council,” said Lin.
The statement from Beijing came as the US forces were pursuing another Venezuelan oil tanker in the Caribbean, and if seized, it will be the third ship intercepted since Dec. 10.
The US Coast Guard “operation” targets the Bella 1 tanker, a Panamanian-flagged vessel sanctioned by the US, which is en route to Venezuela to load oil, Bloomberg reported .
The incident follows the boarding of the Centuries supertanker on Saturday and the Skipper on Dec. 10.
The development comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas.
